Life-preserver.



F. STEBBING.

LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED wma 18. 191s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l n amg/nto: fwwy' l 17cm/f 656mg@ Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

F. STEBBING.

LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED IuIIE I8. I9Ia.

Patented Mar. 11,1919.

@M fw Y attozn AUm'rED s'rnrns PATENT, OFFICE.

FRANK STEBBING, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs.

LIFE-PRESERVERL cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of which the following is a specification..

This inventionrel-ates to new and useful improvements in life preservers and thev principal object of the invention is to-provide a device of this nature which will sustain the head of the wearer above the water even though the person may be unconscious or helpless from wounds or injuries.

Another object of the invention is to provide the life preserver with a ring which is adapted to encircle the neck of the wearer, and to come well up on his head when inflated, with means for making the device conform to the physique of the person on which it is placed.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for restricting the inflation of the lower part of the device, thus preventing this part from counter-acting the buoyancy of the col-lar. I 1

Another obj ect of the invention is to pro y vide a device of this character which is sim- In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which zi l Figure l is a view showing the invention in use.

Fig. 2 is a like view with the device shown in section.

Fig. 3 is rear view of the preserver.

Fig. 4 is an edge view. L

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-f5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a like view with the device partly deflated.

Fig. 8 'shows the device in 'folded-up position.

a carrying case for the de- 2 and the front and rear aprons 3. As-

shown, the collar 2 is formed of front and Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mal. 1919.

Appli-cation led .Tune 18, 1918. Serial N o; 240,604.

near portions suitably connected together at their ends at the. sides of the device. V These sides areinclined, as shown, so that the co-llar is of frusto-conical shape. The aprons are ofv substantially V-shape and it will be located in front `and rear of each shoulder so as to make the collar conform to the physique of the wearer.

A reinforcing tab 6 is placed at the point where the edges of the aprons connect with the lower edge of the collar at the shoulder portion. Of course, it will be understood that these reinforcing pieces may be placed whereever desired or found necessary.

The front and rear portions of each of the aprons are connected together centrally by webbing 7. I vprefer to use two s trips of this webbing as shown in Fig. 6, and of elongated form as 4shown in Fig. 3. By this means the inflation of the aprons is restricted so that the same will not interfere with the action of the collar. An adjustable strap 8` Vis connected with the end of one apron and a ring 9 is connected with the end of the other apron. by a snap. hook or the like 10 carried by the strap 8. l

A `tube 11 is connected with the interior of the collar and its outer end is provided with a suitable valve 12. I prefer to connect this tube with the'rear part lof the collar. and

to make it sufliciently long to reach the mouth of the wearer so that he may readily iniiate the device by blowing Ainto the tube.

The device is placed over the head with the aprons in front and rear.. The strap is passed between the legs and adjusted to This ring is engagedv ir-mly hold the aprons against the body. lWhen' the device is inilated the collar Will closely lit the neck, beginning at a point at the shoulders and coming Well up on. the head. ln this way the head Will he held in its highest position and Will be prevented from drooping on the neck. The Welohing 7 will cause the aprons to assume a substantially tapered forni so as to act with the collar in holding the body in a perpendicular position While in the Water.

llVhe-n the device is not in use it may he folded into the position shown in dig. 8 and it may be carried in a suitable case such as that shown at 13 in Fig. 9.

lt is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

l desire it to he understood that l may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, Iprovided that such changes :tall Within the' scope of the appended claims.

What l claim is lfi life preserver comprising a continuous collar of substantially rusto-conical shape forming 'an upper air compartment,

front and rear aprons of V shape depended trom the front and rear of said collar, each apron having front and rear Walls connected together at their edges to form an air compartment Which is in communication with the upper compartment, attaching means at the lower ends of the aprons, @vehbing connecting the central portions of the interior Wallsl of each of said aprons together and an ination tube carried by the collar.

2.' .lite preserver comprising' a continuons collar forming an upper air compartment, front and rear aprons of V shape depending roni the front and rear of said collar., eachapron having vfront and rear parts connected together at' their edges to forni air compartments which are in communication with the upper air compartment,

webbing connecting the central parts of the Y front and rear interior Walls of each apron together,l and each apron having the edge portions of the front and rear interior Walls connected together immediately below said colilar and an inflation tube carried by said collar. l

ln testimony whereof l ahX my signature.

' FRANK STEBBNG. 

